Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-02-18

great qualities he aided the character o
an humble, yet jealous and sincere Chris
tlan, and that he was such, no one wit
knew HIM could doubt. For my part,
believe that Stanton never had NOR
accomplished physician. nor a better man
IL 1 remember Alright, DR.. Francis T
Stribling succeeded DR.. VIM. Boys as Su
perintendent and Physician of the West
ern Lunatic Asylum. DR.. s. was youns
man when appointed and had not long
been practicing his profession, yet, as was
afterwards shown, better selection could
not have been made. To DISPOSE tior
gentle and kind, he added will strong
and determined, and an ambition to exec
In his calling which made him eminently
fitted to take charge of the institution
and few years placed him IN the very
front rank of experts IN the treatment OF
the poor unfortunates bereft of reason. So
universally esteemed was DR.. Strlbling for
his high qualifications as Superintendent
of the Asylum, that [ am inclined to be.
lieve that had he lived to this time neither
political necessity nor party rancor would
have dared to remove him from his post.
Among other physicians residing in
StaunJon at the time of which am speak
France. He kept drug store in the
brick building on the south side Of Main
St., one door east from New ST.; and prac-
ticed medjcine-his principal medicaments
being vapor baths and a compound which
he called lie Roi." He built number of
houses on the west side of Augusta ST.,
in Gallows' Town, which buildings were
for several years afterwards called Mar
tinsburg. The Doctor did not live long in
Stanton. Having become financially in
volved, "Martinsburg" was sold, and he
sought new home.
DR.. Edmund Berkeley became resident
of Staunton, in 1884 He kept drug
store in the same house that DR.. Martin
had occupied, and being very lame, did
not, think, seek much practice. He was
a most excellent gentleman, devout
Christian, and was regarded by those who
had an opportunity to know him profess
sionally skilled and competent physician.
Drs. Taliaferro Reynolds and E. G..
Fisher were practicing physicians in
Staunton for some time-I do not know
how long-previous to 1874. DIR. r. was a
bachelor, and as is often the case with
that unfortunate class of people, some
what eccentric; ye6 he was a sensible,
high-toned gentleman, and not few peo-
In hQ nh int ho
place. DIR. Fisher also stood we'll in his
profession and was regarded by all who
knew him as a clever and worthy gentle
man, and I will only add that as he has
long been living among your people they
must know him better than do.
LAWYERS.
Attic time of which l am speaking, and
for some years earlier the high reputation
of Stanton IS bar was unsurpassed by that
of any place in the State. Its leaders were
Chapman johnson, Daniel Shelley, John
I'll. Peyton and Briscoe e. Baldwin, four
men who had no superiors, scarcely any
equals in their profession anywhere
Messrs. A. III. III. Stuart and 7. J. Mic HE
were also prominent members of the bar
as far back as $780,
Mr.. johnson moved from Stauntou to
Richmond when l was mere boy, and
though frequently saw him years after
wards, during his summer visits to "Bear
Wallow," and well recolect his portly
form and handsome, benignant counte-
nance, never had an opportunity of hear
ing him at the bar.
49,, Mr.. Shelley died in 1880, and my recol-
lection of him is rather indistinct, though
do remember seeing rather than hearing
him speak ON one occasion in court, and
noticing the way in which he twirled his
watch seal. Mr.. s. was emphatically a
self-mad e man. His opportunities during
his youth for acquiring knowledge were
very few, yet, being possessed of a strong
native mind and a determined will. be
overcame every obstacle that confron ted
him, and rapidly rose to eminence in the
profession of his choice, and while mem
Der of the u. s. House Of Representa-
tives, proved himself ready and forcible
debater, able to cope even with John Ran
dolph.
Mr.. Peyton was a remarkably hand
some man, being of fine figure and size
and with face whose every feature was
Well-nigh faultless in shape and express
sion. Indeed, the word 'superb," which
used to convey an idea of the late Gen.
Hancock's commanding appearance, might
with equal appropriateness have been ap-
piled to John Howe Peyton. 1 have fire.
quently heard Mr.. P. speak. His speeches
were never very long, but always prac-
tical and to the point, full of good, hard
common sense, and evincing not only an
intimate knowledge of law. bat also that
his great brain was well stocked with
useful knowledge of almost every sort.
Gen. Baldwin, as he was called until he
was elected to the Bench of the Court Of
Appeals, was not handsome man like
Mr.. PeYton; yet, to me, his face, when in
Tepose, was simply grand, so full was it of
massive intellect, unbending integrity and
widely expansive benevoience. When
was quite young and used, in company
with John, to go TO the Generals office in
the brick building which stood where the
Court House now stands, was accustom-
toned to look upon tie great lawyer with
feeling of profound respect, not unmixed
with awe, regarding him as something
more than mortal. He was truly a Qreat
lawyer, learned and eloquent, and as an
advocate without a superior.
Thos. J. Niche, another of Staunton'g
distinguished lawyers, was nephew of
Chapman Johnson, and possessed no small
share of his great uncle7s talent lie was